The Heroes | Page 5

which she sang you shall learn yourselves
some day.
And now they are past the last blue headland, and in the open sea; and
there is nothing round them but the waves, and the sky, and the wind.
But the waves are gentle, and the sky is clear, and the breeze is tender
and low; for these are the days when Halcyone and Ceyx build their
nests, and no storms ever ruffle the pleasant summer sea.
And who were Halcyone and Ceyx? You shall hear while the chest
floats on. Halcyone was a fairy maiden, the daughter of the beach and
of the wind. And she loved a sailor-boy, and married him; and none on
earth were so happy as they. But at last Ceyx was wrecked; and before
he could swim to the shore the billows swallowed him up. And
Halcyone saw him drowning, and leapt into the sea to him; but in vain.
Then the Immortals took pity on them both, and changed them into two
fair sea-birds; and now they build a floating nest every year, and sail up
and down happily for ever upon the pleasant seas of Greece.
So a night passed, and a day, and a long day it was for Danae; and
another night and day beside, till Danae was faint with hunger and
weeping, and yet no land appeared. And all the while the babe slept
quietly; and at last poor Danae drooped her head and fell asleep
likewise with her cheek against the babe's.
After a while she was awakened suddenly; for the chest was jarring and
grinding, and the air was full of sound. She looked up, and over her
head were mighty cliffs, all red in the setting sun, and around her rocks
and breakers, and flying flakes of foam. She clasped her hands together,
and shrieked aloud for help. And when she cried, help met her: for now
there came over the rocks a tall and stately man, and looked down
wondering upon poor Danae tossing about in the chest among the
waves.
He wore a rough cloak of frieze, and on his head a broad hat to shade
his face; in his hand he carried a trident for spearing fish, and over his
shoulder was a casting-net; but Danae could see that he was no
common man by his stature, and his walk, and his flowing golden hair

and beard; and by the two servants who came behind him, carrying
baskets for his fish. But she had hardly time to look at him, before he
had laid aside his trident and leapt down the rocks, and thrown his
casting-net so surely over Danae and the chest, that he drew it, and her,
and the baby, safe upon a ledge of rock.
Then the fisherman took Danae by the hand, and lifted her out of the
chest, and said -
'O beautiful damsel, what strange chance has brought you to this island
in so flail a ship? Who are you, and whence? Surely you are some
king's daughter; and this boy has somewhat more than mortal.'
And as he spoke he pointed to the babe; for its face shone like the
morning star.
But Danae only held down her head, and sobbed out -
'Tell me to what land I have come, unhappy that I am; and among what
men I have fallen!'
And he said, 'This isle is called Seriphos, and I am a Hellen, and dwell
in it. I am the brother of Polydectes the king; and men call me Dictys
the netter, because I catch the fish of the shore.'
Then Danae fell down at his feet, and embraced his knees, and cried -
'Oh, sir, have pity upon a stranger, whom a cruel doom has driven to
your land; and let me live in your house as a servant; but treat me
honourably, for I was once a king's daughter, and this my boy (as you
have truly said) is of no common race. I will not be a charge to you, or
eat the bread of idleness; for I am more skilful in weaving and
embroidery than all the maidens of my land.'
And she was going on; but Dictys stopped her, and raised her up, and
said -
'My daughter, I am old, and my hairs are growing gray; while I have no
children to make my home cheerful. Come with me then, and you shall
be a daughter to me and to my wife, and this babe shall be our
grandchild. For I fear the Gods, and show hospitality to all strangers;
knowing that good deeds, like evil ones, always return to those who do
them.'
So Danae was comforted, and went home with Dictys the good
fisherman, and was a daughter